President George W. Bush's six hour visit to El Salvador on Sunday, during which he pushed the "free trade" plan, Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), has come under severe criticism from the Salvadoran labor movement and worker-campesino organizations.

The U.S. president was met with major mobilizations protesting his meetings with Central American leaders asking for support for the Central American Trade Agreement and the FTAA (Free Trade Area for the Americas).

Protesters denounced the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, international financial institutions, which are blamed for the escalating poverty in Central America and the economic crisis in Argentina.

The Salvadoran labor movement announced a U.S.

tour by Ricardo Monge, Secretary General of the STISSS, one of the strongest unions in El Salvador fighting the privatization of the country's health system.

The Sindicato de Trabajadores del Instituto Salvadoreno del Seguro Social (STISSS) is dispatching their Secretary General to the U.S. to directly answer and confront the comments and policies of President Bush in El Salvador.

Monge will appear in Los Angeles on April 8, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. at CARECEN at 2845 West 7th near the corner of West 7th and Hoover.

A spokesperson for CISPES, (Committee In Solidarity With The People of El Salvador) commented, "CAFTA is NAFTA for Central America and like the North American Free Trade Agreement, CAFTA will escalate the misery and poverty and desperation of the people of Central America and El Salvador."

"Ricardo Monge will set the record straight during his visit here," she continued.

During his visit to El Salvador Bush supported policies of corporate globalization, privatization and financial agreements which will intensify the exploitation of workers in Central America.